Page 6

Chapter Six

Elias

Conflicted was the best descriptor for Elias’ head as he and Caleb climbed from the car and approached the restaurant. He’d chosen the spot for a number of reasons—it was centrally located, spacious on the interior, and he could rent out the entire back room for a bargain. The discretion it afforded was a necessity, especially now that his plan had somehow been leaked to the worst of society hellbent on destroying everything he held dear. Even with that promise of privacy and discretion, his nerves jangled like live wires as they approached the venue hand in hand.

Despite his misgivings, they looked the part. Sharp suits on squared shoulders with their heads held high, he and Caleb strode into the conference space with confidence, none more so than Cay himself. He thrived in these situations. Elias gave a subtle squeeze of his hand to thank him for the support as they parted at the head of a long table cluttered with small plate appetizers. He'd hoped, perhaps in vain, that feeding the assembly would win them over to his side. Good food was a huge motivator, after all.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman.” Elias remained standing as Caleb took a seat beside him. All around him, the expectant faces of senators, congressmen, donors, and supporters waited in anticipation. With a restorative breath, he began the speech that wasn't all that hard to memorize since he believed each word to the marrow of his bones.

The more he spoke, the more confident he became. Promises of leadership grounded in empathy and integrity were easy to make when one held those principles in the highest esteem. His words garnered nods and quiet approval as he made claims of a brighter future for them all—bridging political divides, tackling corruption, and restoring the country’s faith in the government they all swore to protect, preserve, and defend.

It was hard not to make accusations against Adelaide, but he refused to run a smear campaign. Instead, he aimed for veiled criticism of policies rooted in fear and division. The murmurs of agreement and critical gazes affirmed that everyone present knew what he was getting at without having to say it directly. This would be the highest tightrope he'd have to walk when it came to campaigning.

“I'm not doing this for prestige or power. My goal is not for notoriety. My aim is, and always will be, to create a world where people like my son—like all of our sons and daughters—do not have to live in fear under a leader who can't be trusted.” Elias rested his hands on the chair in front of him as his eyes searched the many faces gazing back at him.

Movement caught his eye as Matthew rose to his feet. “And I will be at your side every step of the way. I intend to join the ticket as Elias’ running mate. Together, we will dedicate ourselves to bringing glory to this nation’s highest seat of power. For the good of the people.”

The room erupted in cacophonous applause and heartfelt cheers. Despite the earnest support, Elias’ smile faltered a little. He was standing with his toes on the precipice of a momentous occasion and the weight of it became a physical sensation in the middle of his chest.

“They're all with you, baby.” Caleb’s whisper drew Elias’ gaze. His crooked smile eased the pressure in his ribcage by a fraction. “You've got this.”

“We. We’ve got this.” Elias bolstered his words with a resolute nod.

The afternoon meeting turned into an open forum as the people fell into smaller conversational groups. The innocuous clink of silverware against plates and ice in glasses was a stark contrast to the heavy topics being discussed. How something as mundane as the sounds of people sharing a meal could exist at the same time as talks about corruption and threats threw him for a loop. It was a chilling reflection of his life over the last two years—small moments of normalcy tainted by the threat of an enemy with no name or face.

He made the rounds with Caleb steadfast beside him, thanking everyone for coming and lending their support. As the numbers began to dwindle, the young hostess appeared in the door, pale-faced and trembling. Elias checked his watch, confused to find they still had half an hour left on the reservation.

“Sir?” Her voice was a strained squeak as she deftly maneuvered through the lingering bodies. “This came for you.”

Caleb intervened, snatching the small note from her shaking hand. His lips parted, his eyes went wide, and Elias’ heart skipped a beat as he looked up to make eye contact before slowly passing the paper to him. His gaze dropped immediately to the scribbled words and he barely had time to pull a chair out before collapsing into it.

“Reconsider now or your family will pay the price.”

Elias found it difficult to draw a full breath and the pressure built in his chest to the point of pain. Thank God for small blessings, because Matt and Caleb jumped into action, seeing the remaining loiters from the room with bright smiles and promises to talk again soon. Lastly, the hostess was ushered back to her simpler duties overseeing reservations and seating charts without the weight of threats from ruthless enemies hanging over her head. She'd have to deal with more complications once the authorities arrived. Hopefully, she could hold on to a little peace for a bit longer. Elias found himself wondering if perhaps he'd enjoy a simpler workaday job, too.

Once the room was empty, he sank back in his chair with a shaky breath. “What have I done?”

“Nothing. Abso-fucking-lutely nothing.” Caleb rushed closer and fell to his knees to better see Elias’ downcast face. “They're terrified, and that's because you're doing the right thing.”

“Cay, maybe Theo was right. I'm putting us in danger. All of us. This is a mistake.”

“Nope. Na-uh. The mistake would be letting them win. Since when do we let these fuckers scare us into silence? We don't. We’ll protect our family. We always do, El.” Caleb’s hands squeezed Elias’ knees to reinforce the ferocity of his words.

“A whole lot of good it's doing so far.” Elias pinched the bridge of his nose and screwed his eyes shut. The memory of Theo’s devastated expression and words of warning slammed into view in the space behind his eyelids. “Theo hates me. They are already destroying us.”

“Literally shut up. He doesn't hate you.” Elias could hear the eye roll in his husband’s tone. “He’s just scared. And so are you. We don't let fear define us, though. We use it to fight. So let’s give’em hell.”

“Here, here.” Matthew stepped around the table and rested a heavy hand on Elias’ shoulders. “Sparky’s right. Let’s give them hell.”

Elias tried to find solace in their words, but a sharp knock at the door and a half dozen FBI agents entering shortly after did little to assuage his fears and concerns. He had a dire feeling this was just the beginning, but Caleb was right. He'd never go down without a fight when it meant standing up for everything—and everyone—he loved.

It was many arduous hours later before Elias had a chance to sit down and simply breathe. His chest ached with residual tension and his weariness dulled the sharp edges of his emotions, compounded by playing the part of unaffected father during dinner and the bedtime routine Parker would never relinquish. Alone in his office, he sat with the weight of it all as he held his head in his hands. The soft-soled gait of his partner drew him out of his rumination before it could swallow him whole.

“I made you tea, baby doll.” The aroma of mint and chamomile wafted up to greet him as Caleb slid the mug onto the blotter. “Let me guess what's got your noggin in a noodle—you aren't backing out.”

A statement, not a question. Caleb knew him too well. “I can't. They made it personal.”

“Mmm. There’s my boss man. Stubborn as hell, sexy as fuck, and the gold standard for family men the world over.” Caleb propped a hip on the edge of the desk, but that wouldn't do. Elias grappled with his clothing, grabbing fistfuls of the fabric to yank Caleb from the desk and into his lap. Once he settled with a quiet laugh, Elias pulled him into the circle of his arms and inhaled the familiar scent, exhaling the residual tension as he basked in the closeness.

“I'm terrified, babe.”

“Me too. We all are. Fear is a healthy thing. Use it to fight, baby doll. Just don't let it take over. I won't lose you to them or to the fear.” Caleb shifted and pressed a kiss to the tip of Elias’ nose. “As long as we stick together, those fuckers don't stand a chance.”

Elias huffed a muted laugh, nuzzling his nose into the curve of Caleb's neck as they relaxed together in the quiet peace of their office sanctuary. It was these moments that galvanized his resolve. He had so much to lose, but the risk of losing it was there whether he fought or not. He’d be damned if he went down without a fight. That much he knew without a shadow of a doubt. In fact, he'd fight even harder because of the stakes.